Max abler



(No Model.)

M. ADLER.

GORSET GLASP.

No. 402.880. I Patented May '7, 1889.

W///////////// ll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX ADLER, OF NEW HAVEN, OONNECTIOUT, ASSIGNOR TO MAYER, STROUSE 85 OO., OF SAME PLACE.

CORSET-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402380, dated May '7, 1889.

Application filed February 18, 1889.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAX ADLER, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Corset-Clasps; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of referencenarked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and whichsaid drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a face View of a pair of busks with a single clasp applied to one bush and engaged with a stud of the other bush; Fig. 2, a transverse section through the busks, showing edge View of the clasp engaged with the stud; Fig. 3, a face View, the outside plate removed to show the jaws; Fig. 4, a front end View of the clasp.

This invention relates to an improvement in devices for securing the front edges of corsets, and particularly to that class of fastenings in which the steels or busks are provided with clasps, the object of the invention being to provide the clasps with a latohing device which will automatically engage the two parts as they are brought together, and at the same time pel-mit ready disengagement; and the invention consists in the Construction, as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claim.

A represents one busk, and B the second bush, which are of the usual construction, made from steel. The one B is provided with the usual headed studs, C. To the other busk, A, and at points corresponding with the studs upon the busk B, two plates, a b, are applied, one each side the busk, and project from the clasping edge of thebusk, so as to leave a space between the two plates of s-ubstantially the thickness of the busk, which may be more or less. Between these plates two jaws, c d, are hung upon pivots e, and so as to swing between the plates in a plane parallel therewith. These jaws project from the edge of the plates, their faces meeting, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. The faces of the two jaws have a recess cut therein to form an opening, f, which corresponds in shape to the body of the stud C, but of a diameter less than the diameter of the head of the stud. The nose Serial No. 300,Z39. (No model.)

of each jaw from the opening f diverges, so as to form a fiaring mouth, g, between the jaws into the opening f. From the pivots the jaws are extcnded and turned outward, forming tails 72, which project each side from between the plates, as seen in Fig. 1. These tails form handles or finger-pieces by which the jaws may be opened-that is to say, by pressing the two tails toward each other the jaws will be opened, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 3. The ends of these tails are turned outward, as indicated at o', Fig. 4, as a convenience for grasping the tails to thus open the jaws.

Between the plates and between the tails of the jaws a spring, l, is introduced, the tendency of which is to force the tails outward, and so as to bring the noses of the jaws together, as seen in Fig. 3, and yieldingly hold them in that position. This completes the clasp. It is applied to the busk, as shown, the two plates being riveted thereto, or otherwise secured, the edges projecting beyond the edge of the bush to an extent to reach the stud C on the other busk. To join the busks they are brought together. The stud, entering the fiaring mouth gbetween the jaws, forces the jaws apart, the spring Z yielding for that purpose until the stud enters the opening f between the j aws. Then the spring reacts and brings the jaws together around the stud, and so as to retain the stud within their grasp.

To disengage the stud, it is only necessary to press the tails of the j aws toward each other, then the jaws open and the stud will escape. The engagement of the stud with the clasp is therefore automatic, produced simply by forcing the two parte together. No manipulation of the clasp is required for this engagement, and this is a great convenience in securing the corset around the body. There is no force required to take the engaging devices beyond the position where they are to remain, as required in many cases, particularly in the usual slotted clasp, where the clasp must be forced over the stud to a con siderable distance before the headcan enter the slot, and then under reaction the clasp is drawn upon the stud This same over-motion is required in many of the interlocking clasps.

IOO

It is to be understood that I do not claim, oroadly, Match-like clasp on one busk ada-pted to engage a stud upon the other busk, as such, I am aware, is not new; but

WhatI do claim is- A co'set-clasp consisting of the two plates A B, Secured to the busk upon opposte sides and projecting from the engaging 'edge of the busk, so as to leave a space between the projecting ends of the said two plates, combined with the jaws c d, hung upon pivots between the p'ojecting ends of said plates, and so as to'swng in the plane of the busk, the &djacent faces of the said jaws outside the plates purpose described.

MAX ADLER. XVtnesses:

FRED C. EARLE, J. H. SHUMWAY. 

